My husband and I are looking at buying a house that has metal casement windows and most of the house is brick. We'd like to replace the windows, but he's never run into this before. Does anyone have any advice on how to go about this? He's thinking re cutting all the metal out except for what's embedded in the brick, then attaching the new windows to the metal and then caulk. Any suggestions on how to replace the windows or where to look for directions? He was a general contractor and can do just about anything. TIA

It is impossible to cut the flange from the window. Usually the frames are cut and the frames and flanges are pryed away. A ten pack of heavy duty metal cutting sawzall blades, a cats paw and some elbow grease is all any seasoned vet needs.

I may not have understood right or explained it wrongly, but I'll show him your post in the AM and thank you so much. We really do appreciate it.

To add to Renaissance man's post you need to safely remove the existing glass from the metal frames or, if possible, remove the entire awning and glass portion of the window first and then use metal cutting blade/s in a recipricating saw and cut the interior metal frame work and the frames with attached flanges to create breaking/bending points. Then by useing a good size pry bar and a block of wood against your brick work, pry the metal frame and flanges out from between the brick and framing...applying lots of elbow grease as renaissance man stated and hopefully the original installer didn't nail the dogsnot out of the window flanges! Also make sure that if the interior side of the window frame is caulked to run a razor knife blade down the caulk bead to break the seal. Also consider that once you have the old window out to make sure the sheetrock or wood trim on the interior side will allow your new window to seat as needed, your new windows may have a deeper frame which may require cutting away some of the existing trim work. I have installed many vinyl replacement windows in your situation and had to cut anywhere from a 1/4 inch up to 3/4 inch off the sheetrock or wood trim to allow space for the new window. Hope some of this info helps!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PCBuilder,

Thanks PCBuilder for the great advice, but how do you attach the new window flanges to the wood behind the brick?
Steve

With wood screws through the frames. being careful to shim the frames so that they are plumb and level.